Hartford City Council Actions

January 13, 1995

* The Hartford city council met Jan. 9 to discuss issues including Community Development Block Grants and an ordinance that would regulate panhandling. There were 27 items on the regular agenda and seven on the supplemental agenda. Compiled by the Citizens' Research Education Network, the following is a summary of some of the issues and action, if any, taken by the council:

* Panhandling ordinance. The council postponed taking action on an ordinance that would punish ``aggressive'' panhandlers with up to a $90 fine and 30 days in jail.

* Block grant allocations. The city manager submitted a resolution with this year's funding categories and distribution levels for the Community Development Block Grant program for Fiscal 1995-96. The resolution was referred to the operators, budget and management committee. The federal Department on Housing and Urban Development recently notified the city that its entitled grant amount will be about $5.33 million, (a 2.84 percent increase over this year's funding). The city also expects $950,000 in additional revenue from project close-outs and the Housing Revolving Loan program, bringing the total amount available to $6.28 million. The city manager's recommendation for funding levels are as follows: community development, $3.86 million (61 percent); human services, $750,000 (12 percent); future special projects, $100,000 (2 percent); housing revolving loans, $600,000 (10 percent); administration, $973,200 (15 percent).

* Ethics commission. The council voted to approve three appointments: the Rev. James A. Lane, Andres Hernandez, and Crescenzo DeLuca.

* Information superhighway commission. The council postpones taking action on a proposed ordinance to establish a special city commission to promote the use of information technology.

* Planning commission appointment. The council voted to appoint Basil Thomas to the commission on the city plan. Thomas will replace Dale Ryan who has served on the commission for more than 10 years, the past two as its chairwoman.

* Citizen participation plan. The council referred this plan to its committees on housing and the operations, management and budget. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has instituted a new procedure for cities to apply for several types of federal funding. The new process requires that the city include the input of residents, especially low-income people who are most affected by the federal funds being sought. City staff members have prepared a plan to encourage citizen input which must be approved by the council.

* Early retirement expenses. The council passed a resolution authorizing the expenditure of $77,850 for temporary staff and computer equipment to administer the early retirement incentive program for the board of education through the city treasurer's office.

* Sigourney Street renovations. The council approved the allocation of $591,030 from the city's Urban Homesteading Program to AEG Design for the renovation of eight units at 229-231 and 233-235 Sigourney St.